Column: Drive-in movie theaters give us something to look forward to, even if they can’t open yet

The owner of the McHenry Outdoor Drive-In Theater had hoped to open May 1, but had to change plans when the Illinois stay-at-home order was extended. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

Some of us were looking forward to one type of warm weather business that seemed to be able to adjust to most of the restrictions placed on venues — the drive-in movie theater.

While an extension of stay-at-home orders thwarted plans by owners of outdoor theaters in McHenry and Gibson City to reopen May 1, fans of outdoor moviegoing might have something else to look forward to down the road.

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Plans appear to be in the works “to remodel and rebuild the Cascade Drive-In into a new facility and operate it as a drive-in movie theater like it has for last 59 years,” according to former owner Jeff Kohlberg. The Cascade Drive-In in West Chicago closed last year and the property has been up for sale. Nothing is final yet, he said, and additional information was not available.

In the meantime, drive-in operators in the region are still looking forward to reopening, figuring they might offer a unique appeal to customers who are want to go out for entertainment without breaking a six-foot social distance barrier.

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And yeah, these places may be a bit of a drive for many of us suburbanites, but Mike Harroun, who owns Harvest Moon Twin Drive In in Gibson City, Illinois, thinks that might add to the appeal.

Until Thursday, McHenry Outdoor Drive-In Theater in McHenry, Illinois, was getting creative for a planned to open May 1. The owner of the Harvest Moon Twin Drive In was also hopeful and making adjustments for a safe May opening.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s extension of the stay-at-home order until May 30 altered those plans, for now.

After consulting with the state health department regarding restrictions for reopening, “I just received an email from the government office that I was referred to by the Health Department. Now they are saying that I cannot open because we are not an essential business,” McHenry drive-in owner Scott Dehn said in a Facebook post Friday .

“I would like to thank you all for your continued unwavering support through these difficult times. We’ll be back … one way or another,” Dehn continued in the post.

Goetz Sky-Vu Drive-In Theatre in Monroe, Wisconsin, has little information to offer its loyal customers north of the Illinois state line.

“We don’t know the implications yet for Sky-Vu. Other states have had to close their outdoors,” a message on its phone line said. Owner Duke Goetz said he will continue to play it by ear, and that Wisconsin’s stay-at-home order continues until May 26.

Goetz, a Monroe, Wisconsin, resident, said he is still figuring out “what kind of product we can offer. But we will not open until we can serve food.”

McHenry’s Dehn and Harvest Moon’s Harroun have planned extensively for staying safe while operating, including spacing out vehicles to allow for better social distancing.

Harroun said he has been waiting on approval from the state to open for the season. “We just gotta hear from somebody” to open, he said. In the meantime, he recently sold T-shirts as a fundraiser.

“Just about all new releases have either been rescheduled by the movie studios, or shelved altogether. Therefore, we will be playing some really fun classic films throughout most of the summer,” Dehn, who lives in McHenry, said in a Facebook post.

Harroun, who lives in Onargo, plans to show “Trolls World Tour” (2020) as his first film of the season at Harvest Moon when it reopens. Harvest Moon admission is $8 for adults, and $7 for kids 4-11. Kids under 4 are free.

The plan in McHenry was to begin with a showing of “The Flintstones” (1994) and “Jurassic Park” (1993). During previous seasons, the drive-in was open Fridays and Saturdays in May through Memorial Days weekend, and then daily through the summer. Admission is $12 per vehicle.

“I’m actually really excited about this as I’ll be able to do something I’ve wanted to do in almost 20 years … Christmas in July,” Dehn said in the Facebook post.

Other policies also are changing to increase safety. At McHenry’s drive-in, theatergoers will no longer be allowed to sit outside to watch movies, and the pole speakers will not be turned on.

In McHenry, radios will be rented out for $5; they will be cleaned and stored for one week between uses. Customers are encouraged to use their car stereos for sound, tuning in to 89.9 FM.

“I want everyone to feel confident that this is the safest, most sanitary way to not just enjoy a movie during these difficult times, but to actually enjoy being outside on a beautiful Spring/Summer/Fall night. With everything that we’ve been going through? We deserve at least that,” Dehn said on Facebook.

Earlville, Illinois’s, 34 Drive-In and Valparaiso, Indiana’s, 49er Drive-in Theatre had not updated their websites or phone lines as of press time.

As the Sky-Vu’s phone message said, “we look forward to when the stars will be out again."